title: Mindfulness training in a heterogeneous psychiatric sample: outcome evaluation and comparison of different diagnostic groups.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine outcome after mindfulness training in a heterogeneous psychiatric outpatient population and to compare outcome in different diagnostic groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and forty-three patients in 5 diagnostic categories completed questionnaires about psychological symptoms, quality of life, and mindfulness skills prior to and immediately after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mixed patient group as a whole improved significantly on all outcome measures. Differential improvement was found for different diagnostic categories with respect to psychological symptoms and quality of life: Bipolar patients did not improve significantly on these measures. This finding could be explained by longer illness duration and lower baseline severity in the bipolar category.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mindfulness training is associated with overall improvement in a heterogeneous outpatient population. Differences in outcome between diagnostic categories may be ascribed to differences in illness duration and baseline severity.
authors.affiliation: Lentis Mental Health Organization, Center for Integrative Psychiatry, Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Elisabeth H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Bos
authors.forename: Ria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Merea
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van den Brink
authors.forename: Robbert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanderman
authors.forename: Agna A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bartels-Velthuis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D064866:Mindfulness / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: adjustment disorder; anxiety disorder; bipolar disorder; depressive disorder; mindfulness training